It pays off to have job training in math, science or computer software engineering. According to a new job ranking by CareerCast, a job listing and research site, these professions are the best jobs in 2011 based on income, job prospect/ job security, stress level and work environment:

Top ranked is software engineer, followed in order by mathematician, actuary, statistician, computer systems analyst, meteorologist, biologist, historian, audiologist, and dental hygienist.

The worst jobs are: roustabout as the worst, followed by iron worker, lumberjack, roofer, taxi driver, EMT, welder, painter, meter reader, and construction worker.

Of course, the ranking criteria used by CareerCast are rather superficial as job satisfaction does not depend solely on salary, job stress or work environment. For most people, other factors are important too: Opportunities to learn, relationships with co-workers and management, career advancement options, feeling appreciated……

Also not considered in the ranking: individual aptitudes and personalities. For some people, software engineer may indeed be the best job ever; for others however, it may be the worst.

Find out what would be the best job for you based on your interests and needs – read my eBook

Written by Christiane. She is psychologist and Life & Career coach. Contact her at ten.u4hcaocnull@enaitsirhc

The ten sections of the Job Satisfaction Wheel represent important factors, which for many people determine job satisfaction.

 Print the wheel. Seeing the center of the wheel as 0 and the outer edges as 10, assign each section a value between 0 and 10, depending on YOUR satisfaction with the particular factor at YOUR current workplace. If you connect these values with a straight or curved line to create a new outer edge, do you still have a nice, round wheel?

 If you see areas that need improvement, take action. Don’t accept a dissatisfying job situation! Call me at 781 777 2791 or email me to schedule a Free Coaching introduction session to find out how Career Coaching can help you.

 Read also my e-workbook “Learn to Love your Job” with information and activities designed to help you to find satisfaction in your job. Learn more about the book.

What are the key factors that keep people happy in the workplace?

One would assume that this should be an easy question to research, however studies about this topic yield different results. For one, researchers use different questions in their surveys.  Another reason is that not all studies analyze the results by age groups. Generally, younger workers tend to be less satisfied with their jobs than older workers and they do have different expectations.

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) annually surveys employees and HR professionals about job satisfaction.

The Top 5 Job Satisfaction Factors for Employees are according to the 2009 Survey report :

• Job Security
• Benefits
• Compensation/Pay
• Opportunities to use skills and abilities
• Feeling safe in the work environment

The HR professionals in this study agreed with ‘ Job Security’ as top priority, and they also included ‘Benefit’s and ‘Opportunities to use skills and abilities’ among the top 5 factors. However, on rank 2 they put ‘Relationship with immediate supervisor’ and on rank 4’Ccommunication between employees and senior managemen’t.

Salary.com Inc.  found that employers overestimate the job satisfaction levels of their employees.  According to the 2008/2009 Employee Satisfaction and Retention Survey by salary.com, about 65 % of employees said that they are somewhat satisfied with their jobs. Employers believed this number to be 77%.  

Key Factors for staying in the job are according to the study: 

Good relationships with co-workers,  job security, desirable commute and desirable hours.  Good relationships with managers and adequate benefitswhere this time not among the top reasons why people remain in their jobs.

Top reasons to leave a job are according to the survey inadequate pay, insufficient recognition and not  enough development opportunities.

In my college classes, I usually give my students also a questionnaire about important job satisfaction factors. Most of my students are in their 20s, which means they belong to the group of the most unhappy workers in the US – at least according to the results of most  major surveys.

The top 5 key factors for job satisfaction according to my students are:

• Pay
• Benefits
• Relationship with supervisor
• Relationship with co-workers                              and, normally not included in surveys
• Humor/ having fun at the workplace

Perhaps this is the difference between todays young people and the rest of us workers. Young people want to enjoy the time they spend at work, while previous generations are more achievement oriented or only work to make a living.

Why do you work? What are the most important key factors for you? What motivates you? What can you do to improve a dissatisfying job?

Find the answers in my new eWorkbook: Job Satisfaction – Learn to Love Your Job!

This is not just another book to read. Activities like thought questions, questionnaires and exercises will guide you to a better understanding of your wishes and needs at the workplace. You will learn which aspects of your job are gratifying and which aspects need improvement. I also offer you advice and tips what you can do to improve your job situation.

Get the eWorkbook  “Job Satisfaction – Learn to Love Your Job”  NOW!